Application of remote sensing for assessment of change in vegetation cover and the subsequent impact on climatic variables

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The impacts of vegetation cover changes (VCCs) and land use land cover changes (LULCCs) on climate variabilities need to be addressed while...     

An overview on the production of pigment grade titania from titania-rich slag.

To recover pigment grade TiO2, operating plants all over the world use chemical processes. Slag-based technology is considered to be attractive because of low waste generation and low chemical cost due to high titanium content and is poised to replace the conventional technology. This paper provides a review of the slag-based technology with the specific aim to produce leachable slag and achieving high titania yield from recovered wastes. Leachable oxides of the lower oxidation state, such as TiO and Ti2O3, facilitate the leaching process. However, during smelting these oxides increase the viscosity of the slag. Formation of titanium carbide or carbonitride is also not desirable as it leads to resistance to the leaching of titanium. This report highlights the problems and their possible solutions to obtain leachable slag.     

Feasibility of bioleaching integrated with a chemical oxidation process for improved leaching of valuable metals from refinery spent hydroprocessing catalyst

Bioleaching is considered an eco-friendly technique for leaching metals from spent hydroprocessing catalysts; however, the low bioleaching yield of some valuable metals (Mo and V) is a severe bottleneck to its successful implementation. The present study reported the potential of an integrated bioleaching-chemical oxidation process in improved leaching of valuable metals (Mo and V) from refinery spent hydroprocessing catalysts. The first stage bioleaching of a spent catalyst (coked/decoked) was conducted using sulfur-oxidizing microbes. The results suggested that after 72 h of bioleaching, 85.7% Ni, 86.9% V, and 72.1% Mo were leached out from the coked spent catalyst. Bioleaching yield in decoked spent catalyst was relatively lower (86.8% Ni, 79.8% V, and 59.8% Mo). The low bioleaching yield in the decoked spent catalyst was attributed to metals’ presence in stable fractions (residual + oxidizable). After first stage bioleaching, the integration of a second stage chemical oxidation process (1 M H₂O₂) drastically improved the leaching of Ni, Mo, and V (94.2–100%) from the coked spent catalyst. The improvement was attributed to the high redox potential (1.77 V) of the H₂O₂, which led to the transformation of low-valence metal sulfides into high-valence metallic ions more conducive to acidic bioleaching. In the decoked spent catalyst, the increment in the leaching yield after second stage chemical oxidation was marginal (<5%). The results suggested that the integrated bioleaching-chemical oxidation process is an effective method for the complete leaching of valuable metals from the coked spent catalyst.

     

Growth, biomass production and photosynthesis of Cenchrus ciliaris L. under Acacia tortilis (Forssk.) Hayne based silvopastoral systems in semi arid tropics

The growth, biomass production and photosynthesis of Cenchrus ciliaris was studied under the canopies of 17 yr old Acacia tortilis trees in semi arid tropical environment. On an average the full grown canopy of A. tortilis at the spacing of 4 x 4 m allowed 55% of total Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) which in turn increased Relative Humidity (RH) and reduced under canopy temperature to -1.75 degrees C over the open air temperature. C. ciliaris attained higher height under the shade of A. tortilis. The tiller production and leaf area index decreased marginally under the shade of tree canopies as compared to the open grown grasses. C. ciliaris accumulated higher chlorophyll a and b under the shade of tree canopies indicating its shade adaptation potential. The assimilatory functions such as rate of photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance, photosynthetic water use efficiency (PN/TR) and carboxylation efficiency (PN/CINT) decreased under the tree canopies due to low availability of PAR. The total biomass production in term of fresh and dry weight decreased under the tree canopies. On average of 2 yr C. ciliaris had produced 12.78 t ha(-1) green and 3.72 -t ha(-1) dry biomass under the tree canopies of A. tortilis. The dry matter yield reduced to 38% under the tree canopies over the open grown grasses. The A. tortilis + C. ciliaris maintained higher soil moisture, organic carbon content and available N P K for sustainable biomass production for the longer period. The higher accumulation of crude protein, starch, sugar and nitrogen in leaves and stem of C. ciliaris indicates that this grass species also maintained its quality under A. tortilis based silvopastoral system. The photosynthesis and dry matter accumulation are closely associated with available PAR indicating that for sustainable production of this grass species in the silvopasture systems for longer period about 55% or more PAR is required.     

韩国绿色种养循环农业发展概况与经验启示

联合国将碳中和视为当今世界最为紧迫的任务,而农业是温室气体排放最多的产业之一,各国相继出台政策积极开展农业农村减排工作。韩国自2012年开始逐渐减少海洋粪污排泄量,并大力实行绿色种养循环农业,解决本国内畜禽粪污问题。韩国作为中国的重要海上邻国,不论是从研究借鉴角度抑或生态系统共享角度,了解其环境保护政策都是十分必要的。本文从韩国实施的主要政策、各地区农地养分收支现状、代表性运营模式案例、政策关注焦点等方面介绍韩国绿色种养循环农业的发展概况,结合中国绿色种养循环农业现状开展研究。提出三点政策建议：第一,进一步完善畜禽粪污资源化利用机具补贴辅助管理系统,提高系统在农户中的普及率;第二,提高全民环保意识的同时,政府的角色不应局限自上而下的引导型,应该积极促进种植户和养殖户间的自发组织,并大力提倡吸纳社会资本,集结社会各方力量;第三,促进绿色种养循环农业产品的商品化和品牌化,从而调动农户参与绿色种养循环农业的积极性。     

Organochlorine pollutants in human blood and their relation with age, gender and habitat from North-east India

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been beneficial to man and environment but their inadvertent use has caused considerable harm to human health. Despite the proliferation of different types of pesticides, organochlorines such as HCH and DDT still account for two third of the total consumption in India because of their low cost and versatility in action again various pests. Since, Assam, a state in North-eastern part of India is an endemic area with perennial transmission where mosquito borne diseases are serious health problems; these pesticides are still being used in huge quantities in vector control as well as in agriculture. A total of 331 human blood samples were collected from district Nagaon and Dibrugarh of Assam to determine the residue levels of DDT and HCH in human blood. The concentrations of selected persistent organochlorine pollutants were measured with gas chromatography-electron capture detector. The results demonstrated that the mean levels of total DDT and HCH were 743 μg L(-1) and 627 μg L(-1) for district Nagaon while 417 μg L(-1) and 348 μg L(-1) for district Dibrugarh. The difference of total HCH and total DDT between these two districts was found to be highly significant (P<0.0001). Among DDT metabolites, the same trend was observed for both the districts as p,p-DDT was the principal component contributed 41% for Nagaon and 58% for Dibrugarh. In case of HCH residues, for Nagaon, β-HCH was the predominant contaminant comprised more than 34% while for Dibrugarh, it was α-HCH that was contributing 43% of total HCH concentration.     

Gadolinium nanoparticle-decorated multiwalled carbon nanotube/titania nanocomposites for degradation of methylene blue in water under simulated solar light

Gadolinium oxide nanoparticles of diameters <5 nm were uniformly decorated on the surfaces of multiwalled carbon nanotubes which were subsequently used as templates to fabricate gadolinium oxide nanoparticle-decorated multiwalled carbon nanotube/titania nanocomposites. The prepared nanocomposites were evaluated for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under simulated solar light irradiation. Higher photocatalytic activity was observed for the gadolinium oxide-decorated multiwalled carbon nanotube-based nanocomposites compared to the neat multiwalled carbon nanotube/titania nanocomposite and commercial titania. This improvement in photocatalytic activity was ascribed to the gadolinium oxide nanoparticles supported at the interface of the carbon nanotubes and titania resulting in efficient electron transfer between the two components of the composite. Total organic carbon (TOC) analysis revealed a higher degree of complete mineralisation of methylene blue (80.0 % TOC removal) which minimise the possible formation of toxic by-products. The photocatalyst could be re-used for five times, reaching a maximum degradation efficiency of 85.9 % after the five cycles. The proposed photocatalytic degradation mechanism is outlined herein.     

Application of remote sensing techniques toward the role of traditional water bodies with respect to vegetation conditions

Sri Lanka being an agrarian country, the role of water is important for agricultural production. In Sri Lanka, various tank cascade systems, earthen dams and distribution canals have been accepted as few of the most complex ancient traditional water systems of the world. Rainfall, surface water, groundwater and runoff are linked with each other, they have close interactions to land cover classes such as forests and agriculture. The monitoring of vegetation conditions can show subsurface manifestations of groundwater. In this study, an effort to understand the role of traditional water reservoirs and groundwater recharge was made using remote sensing techniques. We have analyzed various vegetation indices such as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI-2), Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), tasselled cap transformation analysis (TCA brightness, greenness and wetness) and their relations with the existence of soil, vegetation and water. Result shows that EVI, SAVI, and TCA-based Greenness Index indicates good relationship with the vegetation conditions as compared to other indices. Therefore, these indices could play a crucial role in depicting the interaction between soil, vegetation, and water. However, multi-temporal observations can provide significant results about these interactions more accurately.     

Characterization and pollutant removal efficiency of biochar derived from baggase,bamboo and tyre

Conversion of broad-spectrum organic waste into carbonaceous biochar has gained enormous interest in past few years. The present study aims to characterize feedstock (FS), i.e. bagasse (Bg), bamboo (Bm) and biochar (BC), i.e. baggase biochar (BBg), bamboo biochar (BBm) and tyre biochar (Ty). Significant changes in elemental composition, atomic ratio, proximate analyses, mineral content and heavy metal content were observed which was well supported by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Impregnation with ferric hydroxide was done, and resultant modified biochars (MBC), i.e. iron-impregnated baggase biochar (FeBBg), iron-impregnated bamboo biochar (FeBBm) and iron-impregnated tyre biochar (FeTy), along feedstock and biochar were used for PO₄ ^3?, Pb, Hg and Cu adsorption. In general, BBg, FeBBg, BBm, FeBBm, Ty and FeTy were found to adsorb PO₄ ^3?, Pb, Hg and Cu better than Bg and Bm, except in few cases. Results from adsorption experiments were fitted into Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin models of isotherms and pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and Elovich models of kinetics. Result of batch study adsorption revealed that maximum adsorption of PO₄ ^3?, Pb, Hg and Cu was done by FeBBg (adsorption mechanism explained by Freundlich model), FeTy (Temkin model), Ty (Langmuir model) and BBm (Langmuir model) respectively. According to R ² values, pseudo-first-order reaction was well suited to PO₄ ^3?, Pb, Hg and Cu adsorption. The optimum pH for maximum adsorption was observed to be 7.4 for PO₄ ^3?, 5 for Cu and 6 for Pb and Hg respectively